Thursday, October 27, 2011

I know you're supposed to talk about the earthquake on FB but I was just falling asleep when it happened and I yelled "Babs is on the roof!".

Did you guys know that you can eat in the Mulvaney's cafe inside the Crocker without paying admission to the Crocker and that it's reasonably priced and you get to eat Mulvaney's food in a sunlit courtyard? The special of the day yesterday was lamb hash with root vegetables and an egg on top. And they have beer and wine, too.

I recommend the prix fixe dinner at Ella. They're offering it for the next few days and 30 bucks is a steal. I tried both entrees and they're both really good. Ella is so elegant and comfortable. They really know their shit.

George Kuchar doc at the Crest tonight! 7:30! There's also a Charles Albright/Buk Buk show at Luigis tonight. You could go to both things if you really want to rage.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

I'm going to assume you're either on the Verge mailing list or its friend on Facebook, so you probably know about the screening at the Crest on Thursday, which is part of the Verge's quarterly partnership with the Crest. But be honest, are you a little confused about what it is? A little on the fence? I had never heard of George Kuchar until he died recently, and then people in SF were tweeting about it and I was like who is this dude? So maybe some of you haven't heard of him either? If so, take a look at his recent obituary in the Times. Sounds interesting, and like it will be up your alley if you are into John Waters, camp, or underground films. So far, so good. The showing at the Crest is a documentary about the filmmaker, rather than one of his films. So this will be an intro to his films, most of which aren't available on Netflix (just Sins of the Fleshapoids).

OK, so we've established that. There will also be an intro by artist Christine Shields, who studied with Kuchar. Check out this portrait, that's gotta be Devendra Banhart, right? I'm sure I spelled that wrong. Look at those doe eyes. Remember freak folk? I kinda miss it. It's still kind of going on at my house. Here are the nuts and bolt details about the showing:

The Crest Theatre will be teaming up once more with Verge Center for the Arts on October 27 at 7:30 for the next installment of our quarterly film screening.This time around we'll be featuring It Came From Kuchar, introduced by past student of George Kuchar, Christine Shields. The film is a hilarious and touching story of artistic obsession, compulsion and inspiration.

Monday, October 24, 2011

This is going to make Babs a viral video star. Turn it up loud to hear the hisses.

I forgot to post this picture from when I was in Big Sur. Went to Esalen again. It's always so hard to stay up but it's so beautiful and relaxing when you're there.

No big whoop. I've been on a salad kick lately, and had this nicoise-ish salad with a Lagrein from Taylor's.

I made pretzel-coated chocolate caramel (or Carmel as I like to call them) apples and they were ok. I actually had one for breakfast this morning.

I think you need to use special caramels for it to really be good . Werther's originals get weird and waxy.

I also made some cocktails with bourbon. Lately I've been craving bourbon. Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's my rampaging alcoholism, it just sounds good, ya know?

Bourbon and ginger beer in a Truman glass.

I had lunch at Bows on Saturday. This is the salmon sandwich with the wine special of the month.

Then, because I read Submerge that they have Temple Coffee at Devine Gelateria, I went there to get a cappucino. That place seems pretty cool. I don't eat a lot of gelato, but ricotta fig would be a flavor I would eat if I did eat it.

Saturday night was Dreamdate. So good! They're going to be back in 3 short weeks. Now that Sonia's their drummer they're totally Sac.

Friday, October 21, 2011

This location refuses to honor specials by imposing limits on the special that are NOT printed anywhere on the coupon or their signage. This has happened to me twice at this location.

1) I attempted to purchase the 5 for $5.95 deal. When I asked for 2 orders of the mozzerella sticks, I was told I can only have 1. I told her that their sign states in plain English "any 5 for $5.95". She said "Well we don't do that." They refused to allow me to include 2 orders of mozzerella sticks.

2) I had an Entertainment Book Coupon that states: "Enjoy one complimentary BEEF N' CHEDDAR SANDWICH when a second BEEF N' CHEDDAR SANDWICH of equal or greater value is purchased." There are three sizes of this sandwich, classic(small), medium and max. When I told the woman at the drive through I had the coupon, she insisted that it only applied to the classic (smallest) sandwich. I informed her that it does not say that on the coupon at all. It says "of equal or greater value". She refused to honor the coupon for anything other than the smallest sandwich.

There's nothing worse than a business that lures you to their locations with good deals that they sleazily worm their way out of honoring.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Phono Select is having a fun contest and giving away gift certificates to the winners! Check it.

Have you chipped in to RTL's Kickstarter yet? They're about half way to their goal with 15 days to go. BTW, I hear that the upcoming Knock Knock record is crazy good and packed with hits that will rattle around your brain.

Dreamdate and Nacho Business are playing on Saturday at Luigis. Is Sonia the drummer of Dreamdate now? I think she is.

I'm a little bummed that my Big Sur pictures are not quite as good as I thought they were when I was taking them. That may be due to the vast amount of Charlie Sheen that I smoked. As a well known lover of yuppie enclaves and yuppie cuisine, I am always PSYCHED to visit the Big Sur Bakery. That above is a ham and gruyere sandwich (NOT sando) with steak fries. Yeah! And they always have good wine and beer there. They have a savory pumpkin bread right now that is the bomb.

Then, dinner at Nepenthe, one of my very favorite places in the world. All four of us there were in agreement on that. This was a beet salad with pea shoots, citrus, and Pt. Reyes blue.

This is the ambrosia burger, always good. Paired with a glass of garnaxta, I think? Is that just Basque for grenache?

That night was intensely foggy, which warmed it up a bit. The patio looked unearthly and beautiful.

Friday, October 14, 2011

I am SO MAD AT MYSELF that I didn't go see Screature last night. I have no excuse because I even could have come in work late if I wanted to. Instead, I fell asleep at TEN and came in at the normal time. Smiller said Screature were really good. I suck. I hope they play again soon, although if it's on a weeknight I will probably just watch Matlock and fall asleep early.

Verge announced their October screening at the Crest. Here's the deets:

It Came From Kuchar at the Crest!!Thursday, October 27, @7:30With an Introduction by artist Christine ShieldsThe Crest Theatre1013 K Street, SacStudents $12, Adults $15

The Crest Theatre will be teaming up once more with Verge Center for the Arts on October 27 at 7:30 for the next installment of our quarterly film screening.This time around we'll be featuring It Came From Kuchar, introduced by past student of George Kuchar, Christine Shields. The film is a hilarious and touching story of artistic obsession, compulsion and inspiration.

Long before YouTube, there were the outrageous, no-budget movies of underground, filmmaking twins George and Mike Kuchar. George and Mike grew up in the Bronx in the 1950's. At the age of twelve, they became obsessed with Hollywood melodramas and began making their own homespun melodramas with their aunt's 8mm camera. They used their friends and family as actors and their Bronx neighborhood as their set. Early Kuchar titles featured in this film include "I Was A Teenage Rumpot" and "Born of the Wind".

In the early 1960's, alongside Andy Warhol, the Kuchar brothers shaped the New York underground film scene. Known as the "8mm Mozarts", their films were noticeably different than other underground films of the time. They were wildly funny, but also human and vulnerable.

Their films have inspired many filmmakers, including John Waters, Buck Henry, Atom Egoyan, Guy Maddin and Wayne Wang (all are interviewed in this film). Despite having high profile fans, the Kuchars remain largely unknown because they are only ambitious to make movies, not to be famous.

"It Came From Kuchar" interweaves the brothers' lives, their admirers, a history of underground film and a "greatest hits" of Kuchar clips into a mesmerizing stream of consciousness tale.

Affectionately directed by one of George's former students, Jennifer M. Kroot, "It Came From Kuchar" will introduce you to the amazing Kuchar brothers - two brothers who love to make movies and continue to inspire others.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

June's is back and as good as ever! Did you know June's full name is Junko O'Sullivan? The good news is that the two months that June took off while she was healing from her broken ankle has erased her desire to retire from running June's! Both June and Dennis were talking about how bored they were doing their time off. June would often threaten to retire in the past few years.

She was doing a good, steady business yesterday. There's Sarah S.

June's rocking a new, short haircut. I should have asked her to pose but I hate doing that.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

The wine tasting at FatFace was fun. This wine, from the Savoie region of France, is indeed a delicious match to the new salmon pate sandwich at FatFace. The wine's on special all month, for 7 bucks a glass. I will be eating this combo again soon. I kept thinking about that sandwich after I was done. The salmon is super smoky.

Michele's going to start doing these events to introduce the specials once a month. I'll let you know when.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

It's come to this, I'm reposting things from facebook. Steve M. posted some good Sac-related stuff.
Looks like a ton of people are going to be at Michele's wine event tonight at Bows, including me. Perhaps I will see you there?

You know what, I don't think I like Fassbinder anymore. Shocking, I know. I tried to watch "in a year of 13 moons" yesterday and it was kind of garbage. And before I decided to give up I had to watch GRAPHIC slaughterhouse footage in service of some pretentious bullshit. It really made me feel like I'm a total hypocrite for not being a vegetarian. However, if you are looking for some Halloween movies, I can recommend "who can kill a child". It's silly but has its moments. Here's a post about it on I Love Hot Dogs, which is where I get a lot of my movie recommendations.

Monday, October 10, 2011

I saw K.J. twice this weekend! Once at Jose di Gregorio's art opening at Bows, and once at the Hispanic/Latino parade on Franklin.

Speaking of Bows, MidMo wine writer Michele Hebert will be doing a wine tasting and short lecture there tomorrow (Tuesday) at 7pm sharp. Be there! You'll get to taste a little wine, hear about it, and then if you like, you can purchase a glass. You will probably like.

Friday, October 07, 2011

For you people not on facebook (and what else is this blog for, really?), OMF and Liv and Lil Becky will be selling at the antique faire under the mall on Sunday! Also, there's this parade on Franklin Blvd that day. I wrote about it for MidMo. The parade starts at noon, and it ends at St. Rose church (across from St. Patrick's thrift), and the church will be hosting hella food booths with ethnic grub. Dancing horses! I wonder what Campbell's Soup Kids are. Children raised exclusively on Campbell's Soup? Those would be some severely dehydrated children.

Thursday, October 06, 2011

Wednesday, October 05, 2011

Bravo to the Bee for putting a restaurant story on the front page. I bought a print copy today because it caught my eye. I guess there's not that much to say when it comes right down to it. Of all the places that closed, I only mourn Red Lotus, but I think that was a tough concept and maybe too large of a space. It's so much easier to make a small intimate space feel lively and bustling. I'm trying to think of other very large restaurants that have done really well in Sac and I can't think of any right now.

This article is annoying. Does it have to be either of these things? How about it's just a new airport terminal that happens to have more art than average. He probably has never flown out of the international terminal if he's questioning the need for nicer digs, although will people be flying out of that terminal internationally or just arriving in?

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

I'm sure you guys all know about Jose di Gregorio's art show opening at Bows Gallery on Friday, right? I'm stoked! It was fun interviewing Jose. Here's the interview if you haven't seen it. I was up late worrying the other night that I used peripatetic incorrectly. I know what it means, but I don't know if Jose has moved around quite enough to use it. This is what I worry about at three in the morning.

Have you ever seen the original Last House on the Left? Wow, what a mind fuck. The original video box used to scare me as a kid, and I seem to remember (accurately, it turns out) that Roger Ebert endorsed it. It's a pretty good Halloween movie, but I won't really recommend it. It's too rape-y. Looks like in Ebert's review he points out that Last House has the same plot as The Virgin Spring, which Wes Craven does not mention in the extra footage.

Nich from Phono Select asked me to post about some fun stuff they've got coming up. First off, this Saturday there is a Four Eyes-themed art show (?) that opens this Saturday (Second Saturday, you may have heard of it) and the Four Eyes are playing it. The Four Eyes haven't played in Sac all year, and now they've played in Sac three times in the last four weeks. It's Four Eyes feast or famine. There's something about the Four Eyes that just inspires people. Remember when Dave Hart's class choreagraphed a dance to Hat Nerd? Super cute. How old are these kids now?
Also, they are having a free in-store appearance by the Bare Wires on October 15th. Remember how Patrone is in their video?

Here's the rather convoluted story of how the Four Eyes art show came about, after the jump:

Monday, October 03, 2011

I see none of my friends won Sammies. It's probably better that way, though. The sudden rush of fame can be quite heady and some people can't handle it. I was particularly worried about Charles.

Have you guys seen that big sign over the freeway on the way to Davis that says "Mori Seiki hurts our community", complete with a guy dressed like the grim reaper? It was so creepy that I thought Mori Seiki was a cult, but I forgot to look it up online when I got to work every single time I saw it. I finally looked and it's way less creepy than I thought. The grim reaper is a touch overdramatic!

Ella Restaurant has started up their prix fixe menu again, and you really should take advantage of it. This is an amazing opportunity to sample this high-level restaurant at a paltry price. It's 30 bucks, starts tomorrow and goes until the end of October. Here's the menu.